Epidemiological Characteristics of Malignant Diseases of Male Population in the Jablanica District and Central Serbia

Aging population and the increasing exposure to carcinogens contribute to the rise of the global cancer incidence. Around 70% of all death cases caused by malignant diseases are in countries with low and medium incomes. The aim of this study was to monitor the trends of mortality and morbidity for cancers, with the highest incidence amongst men in the Jablanica district during the period 1999-2009 and to determine if the cancer incidence and mortality in men of the Jablanica district correlate with the same parameters of men from central Serbia. The source of data used for this study is the report "Incidence and cancer mortality in Central Serbia" for the years 1999, 2004 and 2009, published by the Public Health Institute of Serbia. The differences in cancer incidence and mortality for the Jablanica district and central Serbia were examined using the chi-square test. Men from the Jablanica district territory are more likely (p<0.05) to develop lung, colorectal, bladder and oral cavity cancers than their counterparts in central Serbia. In addition, the incidence of all cancers (excluding skin cancers) in men in the Jablanica district is higher than that of men in central Serbia. Men from the Jablanica district territory are more likely (p<0.05) to die of lung cancer than their counterparts in central Serbia. As the number of newly diagnosed cases increased during the observed period, and that further incidence increases are expected, it is necessary to implement preventive and screening programs which should primarily include high risk groups and then broader population. Acta Medica Medianae 2014;54(1): 40-47.